Lake County is nearly done counting ballots for the Nov. 4 special election on Proposition 50, with just 242 vote-by-mail ballots still under review after starting with more than 10,500. While the measure is cruising statewide with about 64% support, the local vote is razor-close, with “no” now leading by only 55 ballots. Officials say numbers remain unofficial until certification. The county plans to finalize results Dec. 2, with the state following on Dec. 12.
Point Arena is sounding the alarm over grease-clogged pipes, approving a plan to formally warn residents and businesses to quit sending grease down the drain before it wrecks the city’s aging sewer system. Officials say the buildup has been getting worse and is now putting strain on a treatment network that still relies on pieces of 1930s-era infrastructure. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the city will mail out letters telling everyone to maintain their grease interceptors, track cleanings and expect occasional spot-checks from wastewater staff. The council says enforcing the rules already on the books is the fastest way to prevent backups and avoid sticking ratepayers with higher costs.
The City of Ukiah says construction crews will take a break this week, with no work happening on Perkins Street or Orchard Avenue on Thanksgiving, Friday or overnight. Storm drain installation wraps up today, which clears the way for gutter and driveway pours before everything shuts down for the holiday, and the project is still lined up for paving in early December. City staff say the steady progress comes from a lot of teamwork to keep the corridor upgrade moving during a busy season.
A driver had to be flown to a trauma center Sunday night after rolling their vehicle on South Highway 29 between Lower Lake and Hidden Valley. Crews from Station 65 got there fast and started cutting the patient out right away, using their rescue-equipped Type 6 engine with a paramedic on board. The district says that setup gives them quick access to remote areas, backed up by Station 70 and mutual-aid crews when needed.
The CHP is kicking off its Thanksgiving traffic crackdown Wednesday night and says the easiest way to avoid tragedy this weekend is simple: buckle up every time. Officers will be patrolling through Sunday, watching for seat belt issues, drunk driving and speeding after last year’s holiday period left 36 people dead across California. CHP officials say those two seconds it takes to click a seat belt can literally save a life. They’re urging everyone to drive sober, ease off the gas and treat safety like a non-negotiable part of the holiday trip
Allies of former Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson are now fundraising for her legal defense as she battles federal charges tied to a dormant campaign account once connected to Xavier Becerra. Williamson is pleading not guilty, even as two other consultants in the case, Greg Campbell and Sean McCluskie, work out plea agreements. Political strategist Steven Maviglio started the online effort, aiming to raise $100,000 to help her fight the case. Backers say she’ll need every bit of support as the legal fight ramps up.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is under new scrutiny after a formal complaint accused him of misusing campaign cash, and state watchdogs confirmed today they’ve taken the case. The filing says Bonta spent over $468,000 from his 2026 reelection fund on outside lawyers for work that had nothing to do with running a campaign. Finance records show five payments went out to a private firm, raising questions about whether the spending broke the Political Reform Act..
